Govt to Train Kashmiri School Dropouts, Youths For Employment

The government will employ youngsters in private security agencies, hospitals and house-keeping services.

Masked Kashmiri protesters throw bricks at the paramilitary soldiers during a protest in Srinagar, 28 July, 2016. (Photo: AP)

The Centre plans to train and employ 50,000 youths from Jammu and Kashmir within a year under one of its scheme, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday.

We want to train 50,000 people under Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn and Earn) scheme in the state. We will set up three centres in the state including one in the Valley to train them. The disturbance (the unrest) in Kashmir has caused some delay in the works. But we will train youngsters and also give them employment once things become normal.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Minority Affairs

As many as 66 people have been killed in clashes between protestors and security forces that broke out in the wake of Burhan Wani’s death in an encounter.

The Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) said besides training youngsters in local skills, the government will place them in private security agencies, hospitals and house-keeping services.

This scheme is for school dropouts too. We will give them certificates on completion of training. Our focus is to give them employment.

Naqvi also stated that Minority Affairs Ministry has decided to rename its Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), launched by UPA-II government in 2008-09, as ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana’ by updating it with new works.

Apart from renaming the MsDP, he said the government plans to construct 1,000 multi-purpose community centres, to be called as ‘Sadbhav Mandap’, in minority-concentrated areas of the country within a year in association with state governments.

Such centres can be used for marriages, during festivals, for organising craft mela, sports activity... we also plan to construct schools and other facilities on vacant lands of Railways. We are speaking to authorities concerned.

Naqvi also stated the government has released Rs 6,500 crore to states under 12th Finance Commission for the MsDP.

“We have released Rs 132 crore this fiscal until now. We have a target of releasing Rs 1,125 crore this year,” he added.

Among other things, the Ministry will launch on Friday the ‘Samadhan Cell’, which can be contacted in case anyone has complaints/suggestions to make about it.

We will see to it the complaints/suggestions are addressed within 48 hours.